Deck designs step outside the box

It's not hip to be square any more

Deck materials and designs have evolved in such a way that they're not only maintenance-free and longer lasting but are now treated as an extension of our homes with groundbreaking designs that are both functional and elegant.

Photograph by: Handout photo
, Postmedia News

Traditionally, decks have been those square flat platforms that sit outside the back door. They were probably made of pressure-treated wood or maybe even cedar. Fading, cracking and deterioration was a fact of deck life. If you were a homeowner, you were sure to be trading in many a sunny weekend for treating, sanding and staining your deck.

Today, owning a deck is a different matter.

Deck materials and designs have evolved in such a way that they're not only maintenance-free and longer lasting but are now treated as an extension of our homes with groundbreaking designs that are both functional and elegant.

"When people think of decks, their mindset is stuck in the old westerns where people walk out of the saloon doors and on top of a square box platform," says Paul Lafrance, designer, master builder and host of HGTV's Decked Out. "It hasn't translated in most people's minds that they should expect the same from their deck as they do the inside of their homes. It blows people's minds."

Decks today are no longer simple flat platforms but rather something that carries through elements of the indoors to the outdoors such as lighting and outdoor kitchens. The idea of multiple rooms or spaces within one deck is also proving popular.

"Each room has its own identity just like inside the house," says Lafrance. "Inside, we have the dining room, kitchen and family room, so why not expect that creativity for outdoors, too?"

Multi-platformed decks allow homeowners to barbecue and cook in one area, sit and have dinner in another and relax and entertain in yet another.

And just as the rooms in your house aren't utilitariantype squares, decks are also stepping outside the box with their design and growing more curvaceous.

Instead of simple straightlined edges, decks can now be moulded to curve around the edges, allowing designers to make the space both elegant and functional.

"Curves are taking deck design to a whole new level," says Lafrance. "The ability to soften lines is key. A deck should not feel like something that's blocking your access to the yard. The challenge is to make it feel like a gentle transition as opposed to a big box deck. Curves make that transition more elegant and natural."

And one of the catalysts behind the ability to achieve different designs with decks is the new material that has entered the marketplace, including composite recycled materials such as Trex.

Trex composite products are made of a unique combination of wood and plastic fibres. Trex gets its plastic and wood fibres from reclaimed or recycled resources, including sawdust and used pallets from woodworking operations, and recycled plastic grocery bags from all over the country.

The end result is a product that looks like natural wood but has no mould issues and won't split, crack or fade with time.

Gord and Suzanne Keenan decided to go with Trex when redoing their deck because, along with the longevity factor, the recycled material is practically maintenance-free.

"We used to have a doubletiered cedar deck and I was constantly fixing it," says Gord, a 62-year-old retiree in Aurora, Ont. "I probably spent $7,000 putting in pieces, putting in steps, replacing the platform and railings. So when it came time for the new deck, I said 'I don't want to be 75 years old cutting boards in my basement to redo the deck.'"

And, of course, once you have your new deck built, you'll want to accessorize it with this season's must-have deck decor. Todd Mounsey, owner/designer of Your Deck Company in Richmond Hill, Ont., says fire features are going to be hot this season.

He says fire pits, which are often made of aesthetically pleasing cast iron or copper, are safe to use while being decorative and functional. A step-up from that, gas fireplaces, such as the ones often found in living rooms, are perfect for making a cool summer evening cozy and intimate.

And, when the sun is hot, Mounsey says overhead wooden pergolas are decorative ways to add shade to your space.

"It won't keep out the rain, but it offers protection for people who want to stay out of the sun," says Mounsey. "It also adds character to the deck."

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Deck materials and designs have evolved in such a way that they're not only maintenance-free and longer lasting but are now treated as an extension of our homes with groundbreaking designs that are both functional and elegant.

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